Toy vehicle



Feb. 21, 19% Q. B. FRANKLIN 2,498,409

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Feb. 21, 1950 c. B. FRANKLIN 2,498,409

TOY VEHICLE Filed Sept. 18, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 $2 VIII/I/I /I/I AK WWII/[mm 1 w g f5 Invent/n 0262767208 BJ ranZZz'n A Ito rneys Patented Feb. 21, 1950 Clarence E. Franklin, Inkster, Mich.

Application September 19, 1946; Serial No. 697,677

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel construction of multiple use toy vehicle capable of being ridden or driven by one or a plurality of children by a plurality of rider manipulated propelling means.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicle capable of being manually propelled by one or more riders by one or a plurality of separately operated propelling means and which is also capable of being steered by one of the riders either while actively engaged in assisting in thepropulsion of the vehicle or while riding as a passenger thereon.

I2 and includes an elongated platform I3 whichmay be of any desired length and which is supported in an elevated position and for mobility by a pair of front wheels I4 and two rear wheels I5 and I6.

As best seen in Figures 2 and 4, the front wheels I4 are journaled on the ends of an axle I! which is connected to the ends of a steering fork I8, adjacent said wheels I4. The steering fork I8 is provided with a steering post l9 which rises from the upper intermediate portion thereof and Still a further object of the invention is to provide a toy vehicle of the above described character capable of being utilized as a see-saw while immobile or which may be propelled by a see-saw motion of one or two occupants of the vehicle.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a "preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a toy vehicle constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is a similar view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, substantially central sectional view of the toy vehicle;

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the vehicle taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6--6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the seesaw or teeter type and totter part of the vehicle;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the vehicle platform with the parts, normally connected thereto, removed;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 3;

Figure 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line Ill-Ill of Figure 1; and

Figure 11 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line IIII of Figure l.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the

toy vehicle in its entirety is designated generally which is journaled in a steering column or bearing 20 which is fastened to and which extends through the platform I3, adjacent the forward end thereof. The steering post I9 is retained against accidental displacement from the bearing 20 by a detachable retaining collar and pin fastening 2| which bears against the upper end of the bearing 20. As best seen in Figure 4, the steering post I9 is provided with a longitudinal slot 22 located above the collar and pin fastening 2| and said slotted upper end extends into a downwardly opening socket 23 of a steering and draft tongue 24. The tongue 24 is provided with a cross bar or handle 25 at its upper end, as best seen in Figure 1. The socket portion 23, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, is provided with opposed depending lugs or wings 26 through which a pin 2 I extends. The pin 21 extends through and is loosely disposed in the slot 22 so that by lifting upwardly on the tongue 24 the upper part of the steering post I9 will be disengaged from the socket 23 and swung forwardly so that the tongue can be used for pulling the vehicle I2, or the tongue 24 may be swung rearwardly to rest upon the platform I3 when not in use. By returning the tongue 24 to an upright position and "permitting it to movedownwardly so that the socket 23 will receive the upper end of the steering post l9, said tongue will be'retained in an upright position to be employed in its normal way for turning the axle I! and front wheels I4 to steer the vehicle l2, since the pin 21 keys the tongue to the steering post l9 so that the former functions as a part I of the steering post.

As best seen in Figure 4, the front axle and wheel assembly is preferably braced by means of a diagonal brace 28 which is secured at 29 to the under side of the platform I3 and which extends forwardly and downwardly therefrom and terminates in a horizontal portion which is apertured and which is disposed above the intermediate part of the axle I'I. Asmall fork 30 is secured to the intermediate portion of the axle I1 and isprovided with an upwardly extending king parallel re nsh p. A'f seersaiwreor :teeter typ securedwon the endsthereof andwanflarch zmemapin 3| in the intermediate portion thereof which Y As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the platform I3 swivelly engages in the opening of the last men is provided with a pair of laterally spaced bracket tioned end of the brace 28 for connecting the members 51 which depend therefrom and which axle I! thereto. are disposed intermediate of the ends of the plat- As best Seen in Figure 3, a b a a y form and adjacent one side edge thereof. The shaped fork 32 is secured to and dep ds m bracket members 51 are provided with split bearthe under side of the platform I3 adjacent the ing portions 58 in the lower part thereof and in opposite end thereof and is disposed transversely which a crank shaft 59 is journaled. The shaft of the platform; A rear axle =33 iournaled 59 is providedywith a; crank fia'at one end'tliereof adjacent its ends in theterminal bearing-portion and which is located beneath-the central por- 34 of the fork 32. The wheels l5 and [6 are tion of the platform i 3 and beneath a longitudmounted on the axle 33 on the outer sides of the inal=slot v6| therein. A connecting rod 62 extends bearing portions 34. The wheel i5 is fixed-17c. through the slot 6! and is provided with a longithe axle 33 to rotate therewith by a key or splin'e tudinal slot 63 in its lower part which is loosely 35 and the wheel I6 is provided withta bnshingr engagedbyflthe crank 60. The upper end of the 36, disposed between its hub andhthe axle 33 to J bar shaped connecting rod 62 is loosely disposed rotatably mount said wheel relatively to'the between the plates 41 and is provided with an axle. A pair of rearwardly and downwardlyrexrz opening 164 through c which the pivot bolt 42 tending braces 31 are secured at their upper forloosely extends. ward;ends;to, the under-;-side of ithe-platform m r Asnbest seenin Figures 5-and=6; the shaft 59 is and -are provided at their Iowan rear ends provided: with: a crank 65 located-betweenthe bearing-- Qportions .38. ;;vzhich--,the axle .i33ais bearings-58 andremote to the crank 6?] and which journaleda .The bearing portions 38 are disposed; is rotatably engaged by a; split bearing 66 formed inwardly of and adjacent to the bearing portions -on=-one-endof a connecting rod 67; the opposite 34. W 1:: g5 encL0f-:.Which is pivotally' connected to the-lower I A pair of laterally: spaced standards iifiare see endtof adever 68 by a pivot 69.; Theleyer EB-excuredto the platformlii; intermediate of-its-ends; :2 tends upwardly through 'a longitudinal slot -18 and said standards extend upwardly therefrom": in the platform i3 and -is-f-ulerummed on a pivot 1 andtare provided Withuppenhead portions';.:40-.-- =.pin 55 secured inbrackets 12-which arefastened" to theeotherxside ofcthe platform. "The lever 68 pin,-4;Z preferably;in,the formjofz'aonutzand bol as best seen in Figure 5, is provided with anin as best seengin-Ffigure 5.1 ':I?he-,standards;-39-have wardly off-set upper end terminating in-=a knob out tug'ngd efeet' portions at theirygrlower yendszm or handle 13 which is locatedadjacentthe seat 50" secured by fastening'sfirtosthezupper side: or -there :which' is remote to the tongue 2 as best seen in platform l3and are dispcsedin [upwardly], con Figure a. vergigg ,rglafbiqnshipand; With ;fEhe-,hQBJQjJOJLtiOD-S A sprocket wheel 14? is keyed to the crank--shaft-- ereo dis c ed nr pac dapartsubstantially, 59 and'a:smalleri-sprocket wheel-J5 is keyed-to" the rear"iaxle:33. :An endless sprocketchaiwdt is trained over the-sprocket wheels 'l'd and 'lfifor 1 revolving the rearaxle=33 and the rearwheel'lS with the crank shaft 59 and in;the same direction and' at agreater'R; P.M.- 1 I As .best seen-in Figure 5,=the plates' '5 and connecting bar. BZ-are provided='with openings and 78, respectively, which align when 'the'crank' 60 is in a dead center'position to receive a'lockingpin 79for connecting the rod 62'to the bar-Mi As best seen inniigures l and'lll-oneof the heads I is provided with an opening 80 to receiveza" locking pin 1 8& which extends into a recess -82 avi a i ned :o e inescts tier receivin a-lpi-v and totter bar lfl is d-isposedvlengthwisei 10f: the platform; E3 and with ithev intermediates; poi'e" n..-;;t. e iositionecl between the; standard ads 0;, ai inte mediateiportiomistprpvided' with an o-pening through: :which :;:thez/:piv--:-: 0t 42 ,extends for supporting atheinbar Ada-for oscillating or rockin imp ement abovejtheepla form- J 3, Said intermediatetportion;0ttheebaril i pli y d zw thp-aa-ver ical y disposed :lorl' iimda inally extending slotflfi, as, bestrseen iniEligurecl ;-ree. e apair, of. plateszA'L which depen downwardly therethroughl and;:-which ;are ;pro vide dwith arcuate;lowergedgesgasb st -;see in the bar 44 to retain-the bar in ahorizontal res; :T fh plates: 4.! zaresjprovided iwith :out positionand to hold it against rocking motion in, n dflane si etthe r:upper endsawhicnvamm the standards-39; v r secured byg fasteningjs; 49; totheyupperasurf-acaofizi The t y vehicle 52, the structure-'oi' which has the ba sit nd by means obwhichitherplates 41x1 J' -b re wfl describedin detail/maybe a ed ina paced;apart:reiationshi mtrne employed y number Children plates 51. are likewjse pr ovjded it penings number of different ways as a 'play toy. Eforex--" through whichthermvot bolt tzlooselmextends ample, the y I? ay be d n a d p pe Thesee-saw bari l l is providedcyvith seatsndflrn by two children seateduponthe seats -5G--byre'-'" 0 movingitheipin 8i and by the executionof see-;---- saw. motionv to rock the bar' 44 to thereby oscillate" iateport on of the ban-Maandis'provzidedwith the connecting rodfiZ-so that the amnesia-W111i apertured ears; 152 17 receive h andlesfiii jw high be rotated to revolve the shaft 59. The crank extend therethrough and whichaliernosiitinnedsto B0 executes :a rotary andrsliding motiondn'th'e be grasped bythe ocouparrts qfcthe two seatsfi o5 sl0ts63 as thehbar shapedconnecting m d -'52: is;

h p M i provided-z jfl th depenidingjalpe oscillated in the slot 6!. It will bereadily aptured lugsfillocated on opposite. sides-of its'piv parent: thatthis --wil1 :cause --rotaticn =of-the5 otedqei lllermediatezportion andeeach'otewhichnis, sprocket wheel 74 with thetshaft EQ- to-driVethe- I connected to the-upperend ofiapcontractile coiledvn rear axle 33 and etherearxwheel l5 tozpropel-the spring The-lower ends fthe springsyfii'paareejo vehicle 12. Theoccu-pant of'the seat 56 located connected toeapertured lugs? which ane secured adjacent'thetongue Mmaysit facing-thetongue to and ;rise hfrom the platforurxemrnso thatesaid or toward the front-soas'tosteer the front wheels springs -5 tend .,to,-act.againstone, another; l4 by;-turningthetongue m while anthe -same: normally retaining:the teeter-bar "M rinas-homtime assistingt-inithe teeter-tottermotionr Jfthezontal position or parallel to the platform [3. 76 bar 44 to propel the vehicle. Likewise, if desired,

D -5 v(is; Secured; to and disposed-above the-:irrte the vehicle may be ridden in the same manner by a single occupant seated on the front seat 50 by utilizing the springs 55 and the momentum of the vehicle to accomplish the upward swinging movement of the forward end of the bar =14. Also, if desired, one or two children may see-saw on the bar 44! by removing both pins 19 and hi to permit the bar to rock relatively to the conne-ct ing rod 62 so that the bar M can be utilized as a stationary see-saw rather than a mobile one. By applying the locking pin 8| and removing the locking pin 79, the bar M can be rendered stationary and one or more children may occupy the vehicle l2 and be propelled thereon by one or more of the occupants executing a reciprocating pumping operation by engaging the upper end of the hand propelling lever 58 and byswinging said upper end forwardly and rearwardly to cause the connecting rod 6'! to be actuated and to actuate the crank 65 for revolving the said crank shaft 50. Also, as previously stated, the tongue 24 may be raised and swung forwardly so that the vehicle l2 may be pulled in the same manner as a toy wagon.

Obviously, the platform 13 may be made in various lengths to afford sufficient space toaccommodate one or two or more children in addition to the two children occupying the seats 50 and it will be obvious that while two children propel the vehicle by rocking the bar 44 in a see-saw manner, another child can assist in the propulsion by manually pumping the lever 68.

Various other uses of the vehicle are contemplated and may obviously be employed and varilating movement thereabove and adapted to support and be actuated by one or a plurality of 0c cupants of the vehicle, and power transmitting and translating means connecting said see-saw to a ground wheel of the vehicle for propelling the vehicle, said transmission means including a crank shaft, a connecting rod slidably and rotatably connected to a crank of the shaft adjacent one end thereof and detachably fixed to the seesaw adjacent its opposite end whereby the connecting rod will be oscillated with the see-saw to revolve the crank shaft.

2, In an occupant propelled mobile toy, a wheeled platform, a see-saw mounted for oscillating movement in a vertical plane thereabove,

the see-saw, and a pin detachably engaging theconnecting rod and see-saw at a point spaced from the pivot of the see-saw to cause the connecting rod to be rocked in unison'with the seesaw.

CLARENCE B. FRANKLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 110,057 Maltby Dec. 13, 1870 1,577,578 Herrera Mar. 23, 1926 1,751,316 Franklin Mar. 18, 1930 1,929,081 Serpico Oct. 3, 1933 

